It was a close call for the soldiers
Army scrum half Mohammed Rizvy with the ball is looking for a break, but, is held back by an Police defender. (Pic Amila Gamage)
Both the Police and the Army were in the lower reaches of the points table. The similarity didn’t end there as both teams had only won against the hapless CH. Thus when these two teams engaged each other, there was a lot at stake. On the day however, Army was able to edge out their rivals by a mere three points. The winners got their points off two goals, two tries and a penalty. In reply, the Police ran in two goals, converted a penalty as well as a penalty try.
The Army attacked early on and were rewarded when Gayan Salinda, who had replaced Chanaka Kumara after a couple of minutes, converted. The teams took it in turns to attack. Police were on the attack but a couple of hasty, blind passes under pressure was to their detriment. However, flanker Joel Perera was able to get Police’s first score off a maul close to the line. Rajith Sansoni put it over for a 7-3 lead.
The soldiers made frequent use of the rolling maul. Centre Victor Pradeep grounded the next Army try off one such effort. (8-7). Flanker Vinod Kumara enlarged the lead by selling a dummy and going over off a short tap taken close to the line Salinda converted and the Army now led 15-7.
Fired up, the soldiers kept hammering away at the Police defence, while keeping play in their 22. Winger Madushan Chandrasekera put the finishing touches to an Army move that began not far from the line. Salinda didn’t oblige and the score at the break was Army 20, Police 7.
Police started the second half more positively. A good number eight break set up a scrum. Thereafter, winger Absal was able to go over after a short tap had been taken and he had side-stepped a couple of defenders. Sansoni was spot on and the score stood at 20-14.
If the Army thought of sitting on that lead, they were in for a surprise. Police were scenting a breakthrough. A Sansoni penalty made things closer at 20-17.
Two Army defenders went for the high ball and neither caught it. The situation was saved by the Army forwards who came round to clear.  
There was another nervy moment for the soldiers when a deep cross-kick landed in an untenanted area. But a mistake by the Police, meant that they were driven back.
The Army forwards, who played a good game, applied ceaseless pressure on the Police defence. A couple of five-yard scrums and a few short taps later, the defence cracked as the pressure finally told.
Suramya Herath touched down for Salinda to convert. The Army led 27-17 and it seemed all over bar the shouting.
It was now the Army’s turn to feel the heat, as play swung to the other extreme. Army was penalised and the resultant penalty try converted by Sansoni.
Alas for the Police, there was no further time and they had to concede their sixth defeat, while the Army recorded their second win.
It was, to an extent, a rousing affair as both teams seemed well-matched.
The Army probably dominated possession through some good work in the lines out by Kobbekaduwa and Maduranga.
Referee: Dinka Peiris